Some adoptions seem to come together in record time, while others seem to become a far more complex route, for reasons that don't always make sense.

Yet time and time again, we've seen that what matters most is not how quickly or slowly it takes for a match to come to fruition, but that the "right" children and the "right" birthparents find their way to the hearts and/or homes of the "right" adoptive parents.

For the only family in Abrazo's history (to date) to come back four times, their final adoption effort (to date) must have seemed particularly arduous. Having already adopted three beautiful daughters, they felt certain their fourth child was surely meant to be a boy.

So they returned for our Two Men Down orientation weekend of April, 2014 and prepared for a longer-than-usual wait, given their firm gender preference. However, two failed matches and almost two years later, they must have begun to wonder if they were ever really meant to adopt again, at all?

Being the good-hearted and faithful folks that they are, though, they held fast to their dream... and today, by the grace of God and the selflessness of one beautiful birthmother, they have added the newborn baby boy of their dreams to their family (and we just couldn't be happier for them.)

May he always know how very wanted he was, and how totally beloved he is! Blessings, all!

One young couple came to Abrazo before Thanksgiving, having already adopted one child but very sure they were ready for another.

Another young couple came to Abrazo before Christmas, very late in pregnancy but very sure they weren't ready to parent.

That their paths might ever have crossed may have seemed wildly unlikely, yet we have no doubt it was "meant to be."

Today, these two couples met at Abrazo for the very first time, to celebrate the daughter they now share and to discuss their hopes and dreams for the sweet baby girl who could never be more adored by anybody else in the entire world.

Congratulations to our Jankedudles orientation group of 11/15 on their group's first placement, and blessings on this precious babe and her newly expanded forever family!

It's been said that "the Lord works in mysterious ways" -- and we're pretty sure the Good Lord had a mother in Heaven who was dropping a few hints on her son and daughter-in-law's behalf, and a grandpa doing the same for his granddaughter and her husband.

After all, this couple from our Jankedudles orientation of November, 2015 had just barely finished their home study, and they were still struggling through the grief of recent family losses while managing job changes, as well.

So the timing might have seemed less than ideal, but God knew better, and when a newly-delivered mother called from a local hospital this week, with an urgent need to find her infant daughter a home, they suddenly felt more ready to become parents than ever before.

And with a hope chest of baby gifts gathered by that loving grandma-to-be who knew just what would be needed, even though she wouldn't be here around to celebrate the new arrival, we know this sweet baby girl is already being welcomed with love. Blessings, all!